Loose-leaf binder



May 8, 95 F, D, WEDGE 2,552,076

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Deo'. 29, 1948 2 sheets-sheet 1 May 8, 395i F.D. WEDGE 2,552,076

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Dec. 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 8,1951 LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Fred D. Wedge, Oak Park, Ill., assignor toWilson- Jones Com-pany, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of MassachusettsApplicationDecember 29, 1948, Serial No. 67,788

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder, and particularly to atrigger for opening and closing the sheet retaining rings.

It is an object of my invention to provide a trigger that will operateefliciently to open or close the rings of a loose leaf binder. It is afurther object of my invention to Vprovide a trigger that is inexpensiveto manufacture and to assemble in the loose leaf binder. It is a furtherobject of my invention to provide `a trigger strong enough to open orclose the rings from one end of the binder. Other objects of myinvention will lbecome apparent upon reading the following description,in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loose leaf binder embodying theinvention, shown with the covers in open position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, through one endof the loose leaf binder, l.

showing the parts in the positions assumed when the sheet retainingrings are in closed position;

Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 2, showing the parts in thepositions assumed when the sheet retaining rings are in open position;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 4 4 of Figure2;

Figure 5 is a cross section view, taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, taken along theline E- of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective View of a cover plate adapted tofit over the ring carrying plates and having a slot through which oneend of the trigger projects;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ring carrying platesin side by side relation- Ship;

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of the trigger;

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of the hollow stud on which thetrigger is impaled; and

Figure 1l is a detail perspective view of the rivet which passes throughthe hollow stud and secures the metal to the cover.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 'Z indicates a cover plate havingopposite longitudinal edges 3 and 4 turned downwardly and inwardly. Thecover plate is provided with a plurality of pairs of transverselyaligned apertures 5 and 6 through which mating ring sections l and 8project. The ring sections 1 and 8 are swaged into flat plates 9 and I0,respectively, which are arranged in the cover plate in side by siderelationship. The outer edges of ring carrying plates 9 and I9 are heldagainst the edge portions 3 and 4, respectively. The inner edges ofplates 9 and I0 are held in abutting relationship by means of aplurality of buttons Il fitting in apertures I2 formed by notchingmatching recesses in the inner edges of the plates. The buttons permit atoggle movement of the plates and hold the inner edges in the abuttingrelationship in either down position, when the ring sections are closed,or in up position, when the ring sections are open.

The end sections of the cover plate are turned downwardly, as indicatedat I3. The side edges of the end sections are shaped to conform to thecurvature of edge portions 3 and 4 to form a neat closure for the ends.A slot Ifi extends transversely of the cover plate at its junction withone end portion I3. Although slot I4 is shown at only one end of thecover -plate it is obvious that if it is desired to provide the looseleaf binder with two triggers a similar slot will be provided at theopposite end. If only one trigger is provided it doesnt make anydifference which end the trigger is mounted in, as long as the triggerand slot are both at the same end of the metal.

The trigger comprises a body portion I5 and a finger portion I6 bent outof astrp of fiat stock. The angle between portionsA I5 and I6 ispreferably obtuse. The free end of the body portion is slotted, asindicated at l1, the ends I8 and I9 being bent downwardly and upwardly,respectively. When the trigger is positioned with its finger portion I6extending through slot I4, the end I8 engages the underside of the endof plate 9, and the end I9 engages the upper surface of the end of plateIIJ. The end I8 is sufciently strong to move the plate 9 from itslowermost position to its uppermost position when finger portion I6 ispressed outwardly, and the end I9 is strong enough to move the plate IUfrom its uppermost position to its lowermost position when nger portionI6 is moved inwardly. When either plate 9 or I0 is moved'the buttons I Icause the other plate to be moved with it so that the plates retaintheir abutting relationship.

The body portion I5 of the trigger is provided with an aperture 20 largeenough to t loosely on a hollow stud 2|. The bottom of stud 2l isprovided with a flange 22 adapted to seat on the inside surface of thecover 23 and the upper end is provided with a shoulder 24. The portion25 above shoulder 24 is of smaller diameter and fits snugly in anaperture 2B formed in the cover plate. Aperture 26 is countersunk, asindicated at 21. A rivet 28 extending through the cover 23 has a flathead 29 flush against the outer surface of the cover` and its shank 30extending through the hollow stud 2|. The shank 30 is slightly smallerin diameter than the portion 25 of the hollow stud and projects a shortdistance thereabove. The top edges of the hollow stud 2| and the rivet28 are bent over in a single operation and the edge of the hollow studengages the top surface of a ange 3l extending circumferentially ofaperture 26. The edge of the rivet lies over the edge of the hollow studbut does not extend above the cover plate 2. The shoulder 24 supportsthe circumferential flange 3| during the riveting operation and preventscollapse of the cover plate. This protection againstcollapse.

of the cover plate during the riveting operation is necessary not onlyto preserve the appearance of the binder, but to maintain sufficientWorking' space for the trigger which must move vertically on the hollowstud tok open or close the rings.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention inconsiderable detail, it will be understood that the description isintended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many detailsmay be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope ofmy invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be relstricted to theexact structure described, except as limited by the appended. claim.

I claim: In a loose leaf binder, a pair of ring carrying 4 platesarranged in side by side relationship with a toggle joint therebetween,a plurality of mating ring sections mounted on each of said plates, anda trigger pivotally mounted adjacent one end of said plates, one end ofsaid trigger being bifurcated with one bifurcation engaging the topsurface ofV one of, said plates adjacent its inner longitudinaledge,andthe otherk bifurcation engaging' the underside of said other plateadjacent its inner longitudinal edge, said bifurcated end beingpivotally movable in a vertical plane, downward movement of said firstmentioned bifurcation being effective to move the inner longitudinaledges of said ringA carrying plates downwardly, and upward movementofsaid second mentioned bifurcation being effective to move the innerlongitudinal'edges of said ring carrying plates upwardly.

FRED D. WEDGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PTENTS Number Name Date 2,253,430 Schade Jan. 15, 19182,242,035 Koelling May 13, 1941 2,439,675 Segal Apr. 13, 1948

